Cardiovascular News

A new test delivers a higher standard of cardiac care in the Emergency Room

The Elecsys^® Troponin T Gen 5 STAT (TnT Gen 5 STAT) is the first highly sensitive Troponin T biomarker test cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the U.S. This test promises to bring greater confidence to cardiac care. This new biomarker revolutionizes cardiac care by identifying lower levels of troponin with excellent precision. Cardiac troponin is released into the bloodstream when cardiac muscle cells are being damaged, as when a heart attack occurs. Troponin is the preferred biomarker when attempting to diagnose a heart attack in clinical practice.

As you will note, the Troponin is on the far right of the illustration and is one of the biomarkers that is tested when a heart attack is suspected. The TnT Gen 5 STAT will help physicians find this marker much more quickly than ever before, which is expected to reduce the amount of irreversible muscle cell damage that may occur during a heart attack.

What you may not know is that the other markers depicted in the diagram are early signs of heart disease and levels can be tested in our office. These tests are available through Cleveland Heart Lab and can give you an early warning of heart disease that is already present BEFORE an Emergency Room physician is determining if your chest pain is due to elevating Troponin levels. Testing is affordable and can be life saving. Knowledge is power, particularly when it comes to staying healthy.

Comments

ABCDEs of Melanoma

Melanoma is one of many types of skin cancer, but it is the most serious type we can develop. It starts in the melanocytes, which are the type of skin cells that produce skin color. However, there are other cells that can develop melanoma, including those in the eyes and internal organs. Risk factors for Melanoma include being someone who: has had exposure to UV rays from the sun and/or tanning beds has a history of sunburns has a lot of moles has fair skin, blue or green eyes, or blonde or red hair has a family history of melanoma has a personal history of melanoma has a weakened immune system from autoimmune disease, another cancer, chronic stress, diabetes, heart disease, etc. is of older age. Most Melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be flesh-colored, pink, red or purple. Men tend to have Melanomas on the trunk. Women tend to have Melanomas on the arms and legs. Check your skin once a month, especially if you had sunburns as a child. If yo...

Breaking Your Sugar Addiction

Everything You Wanted to Know About Urinary Tract Infections, but Were too Afraid to Ask

1. What are common causes of UTIs? Intercourse, post-menopausal vaginal atrophy, kidney stones, sexually transmitted diseases, proximity to anus/GI tract for the most common bacterial cause, E. coli (wiping back to front, thongs, incontinence) 2. Are some people more prone to UTIs than others? If so, what are some risk factors? Sexually active women are more prone to UTIs, as are post-menopausal women due to vaginal tissue atrophy. Pregnant women are more prone to UTIs. Women with diabetes and other immune compromised states, vesicourethral reflux (condition that causes reflux of urine from the bladder into the ureter, then into the kidney), Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and other neurological syndromes that cause bladder dysfunction, kidney stones or other blockages in the urinary tract can also be causes of UTIs. 3. What steps can you take to help prevent a UTI from occurring in the first place? Urinate and clean the geni...

Not Just Your Doctor

Search This Blog